Copyright thestar
What would you name the city’s new electric ferries? Oct. 29 For those who appreciate twisted humour and irony, I would like to be the first to suggest this name for the new ferries: The Bridge. For far too many decades, Torontonians have wanted to be able to “take the bridge to islands,” now they can. Ian Alter, North York Let America know what Canadians really think Trump terminates trade talks with Canada over Ontario government ad blasting tariffs, Oct. 28 Premier Doug Ford did the right thing to go public with former U.S. president Ronald Reagan’s speech on how tariffs are a dumb idea. With his streetwise bullying ways, Ford knows that U.S. president Donald Trump wants to destroy the Canadian economy so America can get a better deal and Trump can win himself a 51st state. Trump plays hardball and Canadians have only been playing softball up to now. If we want to win the World Series of trade talks, we should be blasting Trump with the truth until he crumbles. I say, keep going Doug. Let America know what Canadians really think. Max Moore, Toronto TV ad money could have been put to better use How many homeless people could the Ontario government house for $75 million? Brydon Gombay, Toronto Choose Canada ads are wasted on Alberta Canada should save the taxpayer’s money and stop fighting Alberta independence with their multimillion dollar “Choose Canada” TV ad campaign. The Liberals missed seeing the thousands of Albertans who turned out in front of the Alberta Legislature in full and enthusiastic support for Alberta independence! This ad campaign by the federal government has as much chance of succeeding as Ford’s Ontario TV commercials have of getting U.S. President Donald Trump to cancel all tariffs on Canada. Chris Robertson, Stony Plain, AB Mixed message from the editorial page Doug Ford’s poking of the bear did Canada no favours, Oct 29 The real reason why Trump was so enraged by Doug Ford’s Reagan ad, Oct. 29 There is very mixed messaging on yesterday’s Star editorial page. Letters to the editor correctly point out that it was foolish and dishonest for Premier Ford to use an out of context former U.S. president Ronald Regan quote to put on a self-aggrandizing macho man act against U.S. President Donald Trump. Why poke the bear? On the other hand, the lead op-ed defends the ad by omitting the easily verifiable fact that the truncated quote comes from a speech where Regan was explaining why he was imposing tariffs on Japan. Pav Penna, Georgetown, ON Canada Post needs to move on from the horse and buggy days Canada Post lays off dozens of managers amidst restructuring push, Oct. 28 I find it infuriating to read the words coming out of the mouths of CUPW leaders whenever someone mentions change. It’s like they believe everything should stay the way it was a hundred years ago. They need to realize that the great majority of Canadians have moved on from the horse and buggy days. Most of us taxpayers very much want to avoid wasting $500 million a year to preserve an institution that loses that much every year. I’m in my 80s and can get to the community mailbox a few times a week unaided. My neighbours are similarly way over the hill but still get there — and back. You don’t design an entire operational system for the one per cent. You go with something that works for the 99 per cent and find another approach for the few who need it. Wake up CUPW! Richard Holloway, Oakville, ON Federal Greens have few issues to get their teeth into Once, green was going places. Now it’s gone wrong. A former Green Party riding campaign manager looks back with dark laughter, Oct. 26 The federal Green Party indeed has problems. Who do Green parties seem to get traction in other countries like Germany and Britain? I’ve worked on provincial and federal Green campaigns, and there’s a big difference. Because of the federal-provincial division of responsibilities in Canada, all the good meaty Green issues are provincial: energy, transportation, municipal planning, natural resources, environmental land use and even building codes. Our provincial Greens have a lot of great policies based on principles of social fairness and sustainability and have no shortage of good doorstep issues. Smart young energetic people get involved in the provincial Green parties across Canada. But what issues are left for federal Greens? A pipeline or two and beyond that they’re left with voter reform and trying to sell proportional representation. With the time left over, they have attempted to broach topics in foreign affairs which turned out badly. It’s not surprising that few want to step into an aimless political group. The federal Green Party should close up shop and turn over the political issues to the provincial parties. Jim O’Reilly, Toronto A stay on murder charges is the most drastic remedy ‘This court cannot ignore the coverup.’ Ontario judge throws out murder charges over Maplehurst jail guards’ abuse of inmates, Oct. 24 I was completely outraged when reading that a judge threw out an execution style murder charge because the charter rights of the accused were violated. Yes, the Maplehurst incident was disturbing, but to have a stay on the murder charge is the most drastic remedy a court can grant for Charter of Rights violation. What a complete joke our justice system is and continues to be because of the outdated Charter of Rights. Linda Ferrie, Waterdown, ON Canada will need a domestic supply of enriched uranium Ford government doesn’t want to link nuclear reactors to Mark Carney’s ‘national interest’ projects, sources say, Oct. 23 The governments of Canada and Ontario should explain how small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) will further our energy security. SMRs require enriched uranium to operate. Canada has little or no domestic supply. Russia, China and the United States — none of which can be considered as secure sources — account for nearly 70 per cent of current global capacity. The SMR strategy must be accompanied by a commitment to build a domestic supply of enriched uranium, as a matter of some urgency. David Beattie, Ottawa Let’s see how AI can help solve Sherman murders Lead Detective ‘Playing Blind’ in Sherman Case, Oct. 28 Almost eight years after the horrific murders of Honey and Barry Sherman, it is interesting that we appear to be no closer to solving the case than we were several weeks after the murders occurred. Is this an opportunity for A.I. to step in and analyze the mountains of data that has surely been collected in order to help move things along? I’d be interested in seeing what this technology can do when it comes to complex investigations such as this. Mike Miller, Milton, ON
